Inspection method and inspection device for RFID tag

ABSTRACT

An RFID tag inspection method includes the steps of transmitting a measurement signal from a reader/writer simultaneously to a plurality of RFID tags arrayed on a collective base member and configured to process radio signals, receiving response waves from the individual RFID tags in a batch by the reader/writer, and determining, based on strengths and a number of received signals read by the reader/writer, whether or not the individual RFID tags are acceptable. Thus, acceptance/rejection inspection can be performed on the plural RFID tags, which are arrayed on the collective base member, in a batch.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

The present application claims priority to International Application No. PCT/JP2012/080493 filed on Nov. 26, 2012, and to Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-092359 filed on Apr. 13, 2012, the entire contents of each of these applications being incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an inspection method and an inspection device for an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tag used in an RFID system.

2. Description of the Related Art

Recently an RFID system for transferring predetermined information by performing communication in a non-contact manner between a reader/writer and an RFID tag attached to an article has been practiced as an information management system for articles. The RFID tag and the reader/writer each include a radio IC element for processing of a high-frequency signal or a feed circuit and an antenna.

An HF-band RFID system utilizing a frequency band of 13 MHz and a UHF-band RFID system utilizing a frequency band of 900 MHz are generally used as the RFID system. In particular, the UHF-band RFID system is promising as an article management system because of having a relatively long communication distance and being able to read a plurality of tags in a batch.

As a system for inspecting, prior to shipment, whether or not the above-mentioned type of RFID tag having been manufactured is acceptable, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2009-181246, for example, discloses a system for conveying a long sheet on which a plurality of RFID tags are arranged at predetermined intervals, and performing communication with respect to the individual RFID tags for inspection. With this system, however, because the communication is separately performed on the individual RFID tags such that the RFID tags will not interfere with each other, i.e., because the communication and the inspection are carried out in a closed system per RFID tag, a lot of time is required for the communication and the inspection. Moreover, because a long sheet is used, the inspection cannot be performed in a state where a predetermined number of RFID tags are arranged on a collective base member.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Preferred embodiments of the present invention provide an inspection method and an inspection device for an RFID tag, which can inspect a plurality of RFID tags, arrayed on a collective base member, in a batch to determine whether or not the RFID tags are acceptable.

An RFID tag inspection method according to a first aspect of a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes the steps of simultaneously transmitting a measurement signal from a reader/writer to a plurality of RFID tags, which are arrayed on a collective base member and which are configured to process radio signals, reading response waves from the individual RFID tags in a batch by the reader/writer; and determining, based on strengths and a number of received signals read by the reader/writer, whether or not the individual RFID tags are acceptable.

With the inspection method described above, the measurement signal preferably is transmitted to the plural RFID tags simultaneously, which are arrayed on the given area, and the response waves from the individual RFID tags are received in a batch by the reader/writer used for the transmission or by a reader/writer dedicated for reception. Whether or not the individual RFID tags are acceptable is determined by analyzing the received signals. Therefore, the plural RFID tags can be inspected in a batch in a shorter time with the so-called open system.

An RFID tag inspection device according to a second aspect of a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a dielectric member on which a plurality of RFID tags arrayed on a collective base member are disposed, a reader/writer disposed at a position opposing to the collective base member with the dielectric member interposed between the reader/writer and the collective base member, and a determining unit configured to determine, based on strengths and a number of received signals read by the reader/writer, whether or not the individual RFID tags are acceptable.

The above and other elements, features, steps, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate an RFID tag to be inspected; more specifically, FIG. 1A is a perspective view illustrating one RFID tag, and FIG. 1B is a perspective view illustrating a plurality of RFID tags arrayed on a collective base member.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view to explain the configuration for carrying out an inspection.

FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate an inspection device according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention; more specifically, FIG. 3A is a perspective view, and FIG. 3B is a front view.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating inspection procedures.

FIG. 5 is a graph to explain acceptance/rejection determination.

FIG. 6 is a graph to explain the action of a dielectric pedestal.

FIG. 7 is a graph to explain the action of a reflecting plate.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory view illustrating the basic configuration of an inspection device according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

An inspection method and an inspection device for an RFID tag, according to preferred embodiments of the present invention, will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is to be noted that common components and portions in the drawings are denoted by the same reference symbols, and duplicate description of those components and portions is omitted.

As illustrated in FIG. 1A, an RFID tag 10 to be inspected for acceptance/rejection preferably is constituted such that a pair of radiation plates 12 is disposed on a long base film 11, and an RFID chip 13 is mounted between respective opposing ends of the radiation plates 12. The RFID chip 13 preferably is a known chip for processing RF signals, and the chip preferably includes a signal processing circuit, a memory circuit, etc. The RFID chip 13 is constituted as a semiconductor integrated circuit chip. The RFID chip 13 may be in the form of a bare chip or a packaged IC, for example. The RFID chip 13 and the radiation plates 12 are joined to each other preferably via electrical direct coupling (DC connection) using a solder bump, for example, but they may be electromagnetically coupled to each other. Furthermore, the RFID chip 13 may be prepared by mounting a semiconductor integrated chip to a feed circuit substrate that includes a matching circuit and a resonance circuit.

As illustrated in FIG. 1B, the individual RFID tags 10 are arrayed in parallel or substantially in parallel on a large-area collective base member 11′, which can be separated into the plural base films 11 independent of one another, such that long sides of the base films 11 are positioned adjacent to each other. The plural RFID tags 10 arrayed on one collective base member 11′ are treated as one lot and are subjected to the inspection at the same time.

Necessary information, such as the individual number (tag number), is stored in each of the RFID chips 13 before the RFID chips 13 are joined to the radiation plates 12. When the RFID tag 10 including the RFID chip 13 is manufactured, the individual number becomes an identification (ID) number that is identify the RFID tag 10. For example, if fifty RFID tags 10 are arrayed on one collective base member 11′, numbers 1 to 50 are uniquely assigned to the RFID chips 13. Moreover, the RFID tag 10 is preferably used in a UHF-band RFID system utilizing a frequency band of 900 MHz, for example.

The inspection of the RFID tag 10 is performed as illustrated in FIG. 2. The collective base member 11′ including the RFID tags 10 arrayed in parallel or substantially in parallel thereon is located on a dielectric pedestal 20 in the form of a flat plate, and the collective base member 11′ is covered with a box 25 including a reflecting plate 26 that is fixed to a ceiling portion of the box 25. The box 25 is made of a resin, and the reflecting plate 26 includes a metal film made of aluminum, for example. On the other hand, an antenna 31 of a reader/writer 30 is closely disposed just under the dielectric pedestal 20, and a measurement signal is simultaneously transmitted from the antenna 31 to the plural RFID tags 10. The reader/writer 30 is known in the art, and the antenna 31 is a patch antenna, which is connected to a feed circuit 32 and which radiates a high-frequency wave in one direction perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to an antenna surface (i.e., in a direction toward the side where the RFID tags 10 are disposed) with directivity.

The reader/writer 30 then receives and reads respective response waves from the RFID tags 10 by the antenna 31 in a batch. More specifically, the reception and the read of the response waves from the RFID tags 10 are executed with the reader/writer 30 by identifying the respective ID numbers of the RFID tags 10 and measuring an RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator) of each of radio signals corresponding respectively to the ID numbers. At that time, some portion of the response wave from each RFID tag 10 propagates directly toward the antenna 31, and the other portion of the response wave propagates toward the antenna 31 after being reflected by the reflecting plate 26. Whether or not the individual RFID tags 10 are acceptable is determined based on the strengths and the number of the received signals, which are read by the reader/writer 30. Details of such inspection procedures will be described later with reference to FIG. 4.

An inspection device 40 is constituted as illustrated in FIGS. 3A and 3B. The reader/writer 30 is disposed on a pedestal 42 supported by posts 41, and the dielectric pedestal 20, supported by posts 43, is disposed just above the reader/writer 30. The RFID tags 10 in one lot are disposed on the dielectric pedestal 20, and the box 25 including the reflecting plate 26 is arranged on the dielectric pedestal 20 to cover the RFID tags 10. Furthermore, a distance A between the antenna 31 of the reader/writer 30 and the reflecting plate 26 is adjustable by replacing the posts 43 with others having a different length. In other words, the posts 43 function as distance adjusting member. It is to be noted that the distance adjusting member can be constituted in various ways. For example, the distance adjusting member may be constituted by providing, instead of the posts 43, an elevating mechanism that moves the dielectric pedestal 20 up and down.

The inspection procedures will be described below with reference to FIG. 4. First, the RFID tags 10 in one lot are set on the dielectric pedestal 20 (step S1). A measurement signal is transmitted from the antenna 31 of the reader/writer 30 and response waves are received (step S2). Next, the received signals are measured and analyzed (step S3). It is determined, based on the analysis result, whether the received signal strength is not less than a threshold (see FIG. 5) (step S4).

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the received signals are analyzed in terms of the tag number and the received signal strength for each of the RFID tags 10. If the received signal strengths are all not less than the threshold, the RFID tags 10 in the relevant lot are determined to be acceptable in this stage. If any one or more of the received signal strengths are less than the threshold, the RFID tags 10 in the relevant lot are determined to be unacceptable and are discarded (step S9). If disconnection, for example, occurs in any of the RFID tags 10, the response strength from the relevant tag is 0. In consideration of such a case, the number of ID numbers specific to the RFID tags 10 having generated the received signals with strengths being not less than the threshold is counted (step S5). It is then determined whether the counted value is matched with the number of set (inspected) RFID tags 10 in one lot (step S6). If both the numbers are matched with each other, it is determined that the RFID tags included in the relevant lot are all acceptable. If both the numbers are not matched with each other, it is determined that one or more unacceptable RFID tags are included in the relevant lot. When the unacceptable RFID tags are not individually specified, the RFID tags in the relevant lot are all discarded (step S9). If the above-described inspection procedures are completed for all prepared lots (YES in step S7), the acceptable RFID tags are transferred to a shipping step (step S8).

In a graph of FIG. 5, a rhombic mark C1 represents the received signal strength when the RFID tags in one lot are all acceptable, and a rectangular mark C2 represents the received signal strength when the measurement is performed again after replacing only an RFID tag 10 a at the tag number 3 with an unacceptable one.

Additionally, if the RFID tags in the collective state can be individually specified for each tag number, it is possible to discard only the RFID tag 10 a that has been determined to be unacceptable.

When measuring the received signals in the state where plural RFID tags are positioned adjacent to each other, the adjacent RFID tags affect each other and a peak frequency with respect to a communication distance shifts to the higher frequency side than when the RFID tag is measured in a state of single unit. FIG. 6 depicts a transmission power value with respect to a frequency. As the transmission power takes a lower value, this implies that the RFID tag reacts with weaker power. The transmission power becomes weaker as the transmission distance increases. In other words, the fact that the RFID tag reacts with weaker power implies capability of communication at a longer distance.

In FIG. 6, a rhombic mark D1 represents the transmission power value when the RFID tag is measured in a state of single unit. In such a case, the peak frequency with respect to the communication distance is about 955 MHz, for example. A rectangular mark D2 represents the transmission power value when the plural RFID tags are measured in a state adjacent to each other. In such a case, the peak frequency with respect to the communication distance shifts to about 985 MHz, for example. Normally, because the RFID tag in a state of single unit communicates with the reader/writer, the frequency of each RFID tag is set to be matched with the radiation frequency of the reader/writer. Accordingly, if the peak frequency shifts to the higher frequency side when inspecting the plural RFID tags in a batch, the RFID tag and the reader/writer cannot efficiently communicate with each other.

By interposing the dielectric pedestal 20 between the antenna 31 of the reader/writer 30 and the RFID tags 10, the peak frequency is lowered to about 925 MHz, for example, as indicated by a triangular mark D3. Stated in another way, with the interposition of the dielectric pedestal 20, it is possible to lower the peak frequency that shifts otherwise to the higher frequency side as mentioned above, and to realize a situation where the reader/writer 30 and the RFID tags 10 can efficiently communicate with each other. In practice, the dielectric pedestal 20 is preferably made of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene, and its relative dielectric constant (εr) is preferably about 2.3, for example.

The reflecting plate 26 has the function of intensifying the response wave from each RFID tag 10. The magnitude of received signal strength can be changed by adjusting the distance A (see FIGS. 2 and 3B) between the antenna 31 of the reader/writer 30 and the reflecting plate 26. FIG. 7 depicts the received signal strength for each of the RFID tags 10. More specifically, a rectangular mark E1 represents the received signal strength when the distance A preferably is set to about 11 cm, and a rhombic mark E2 represents the received signal strength when the distance A preferably is set to about 10 cm. As seen from FIG. 7, the received signal strength increases as the distance A shortens.

The size (external dimension) of the reflecting plate 26 is preferably larger than an area of the RFID tags 10 collected in one lot. In the first preferred embodiment, the reflecting plate 26 is disposed only at the ceiling surface of the box 25, and it is not disposed at any side surface of the box 25. The reason resides in avoiding interference between the response waves. However, the reflecting plate 26 may be disposed at the side surface of the box 25 as well unless interference occurs.

In an inspection device according to a second preferred embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 8, the reader/writer 30 is used to transmit the measurement signal, and another reader/writer 30A for reception is disposed on the opposite side of a collective base member 11′ relative to the reader/writer 30. Thus, the plural RFID tags 10 are inspected in a batch by using the reader/writer 30 dedicated for transmission, and using the reader/writer 30A dedicated for reception. The inspection method is basically similar to that described above in connection with the first preferred embodiment.

In the second preferred embodiment, the reader/writer 30 disposed on the lower side of the RFID tags 10 is dedicated for transmission, and the reader/writer 30A disposed on the upper side of the RFID tags 10 is dedicated for reception. However, the arrangement may be reversed such that the reader/writer 30A disposed on the upper side is dedicated for transmission, and the reader/writer 30 disposed on the lower side is dedicated for reception.

It is to be noted that the inspection method and the inspection device for the RFID tag, according to the present invention, are not limited to the above-described preferred embodiments, and they can be variously modified within the scope of the gist of the present invention.

For example, an antenna arranged to receive the signals sent from the RFID tags may be disposed at the position where the reflecting plate 26 is disposed, and whether or not the RFID tags are acceptable may be determined based on the strengths and the number of signals received by the antenna. Furthermore, an electric wave absorber, such as ferrite, may be disposed at the side surfaces of the box 25 such that electric waves will not leak to the outside.

In the preferred embodiments of the present invention, the collective base member 11′ can be separated into the plural base films 11. Although it is not restrictive, the collective base member 11′ may be a planar member with a given area in order that a plurality of RFID tags 10 are arranged thereon.

While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it is to be understood that variations and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. The scope of the present invention, therefore, is to be determined solely by the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A radio frequency identifier (RFID) tag inspection method comprising the steps of: transmitting a measurement signal simultaneously to a set including a plurality of RFID tags; reading responses from each of the plurality of RFID tags in a batch by a reader/writer; and determining, based on received signal strength indications of the responses read by the reader/writer and a total number of the responses read by the reader/writer, whether or not all of the plurality of RFID tags are acceptable; wherein each of the plurality of RFID tags includes a radiation plate having long sides, and the plurality of RFID tags are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the long sides of the radiation plates; in the transmitting step, the plurality of RFID tags are disposed on a dielectric pedestal; the dielectric pedestal is disposed between the plurality of RFID tags and the reader/writer; and the dielectric pedestal shifts a peak frequency with respect to a communication distance between the plurality of the RFID tags and the antenna of the reader/writer.
 2. The RFID tag inspection method according to claim 1, wherein the measurement signal is transmitted from the reader/writer.
 3. The RFID tag inspection method according to claim 2, wherein, in the reading step, the responses from the RFID tags are intensified by a reflecting plate.
 4. The RFID tag inspection method according to claim 1, wherein the measurement signal is transmitted from another reader/writer.
 5. The RFID tag inspection method according to claim 1, wherein the determining step includes a step of determining whether signal strengths of the responses from each of the plurality of individual RFID tags are not less than a threshold, and a step of determining whether the total number of the responses is matched with the number of the RFID tags.
 6. A radio frequency identifier (RFID) tag inspection device comprising: a transmitting portion configured to transmit a measurement signal simultaneously to a set including a plurality of RFID tags; a reading portion configured to read responses from each of the plurality of RFID tags in a batch by a reader/writer; and a determining portion configured to determine, based on received signal strength indications of the responses read by the reader/writer and a total number of the responses read by the reader/writer, whether or not all of the plurality of RFID tags in the set are acceptable; wherein each of the plurality of RFID tags includes a radiation plate having long sides, and the plurality of RFID tags are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the long sides of the radiation plates; the plurality of RFID tags are disposed on a dielectric pedestal; the dielectric pedestal is disposed between the plurality of RFID tags and the reader/writer; and the dielectric pedestal shifts a peak frequency with respect to a communication distance between the plurality of the RFID tags and the antenna of the reader/writer.
 7. The RFID tag inspection device according to claim 6, further comprising a reflecting plate disposed at an opposite location to the plurality of RFID tags relative to the reader/writer.
 8. The RFID tag inspection device according to claim 7, further comprising an adjusting member arranged to adjust a distance between the reader/writer and the reflecting plate.
 9. The RFID tag inspection device according to claim 6, further comprising another reader/writer for transmission, which is disposed at an opposite location to the plurality of RFID tag relative to the reader/writer.
 10. The RFID tag inspection method according to claim 1, wherein in the reading step, the responses read by the reader/writer are read through the dielectric pedestal.
 11. The RFID tag inspection device according to claim 6, wherein the reader/writer is configured to read the responses from each of the plurality of RFID tags through the dielectric pedestal.
 12. The RFID tag inspection method according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of RFID tags are used in an ultra high frequency (UHF) band RFID system.
 13. The RFID tag inspection device according to claim 6, wherein the plurality of RFID tags are used in an ultra high frequency (UHF) band RFID system. 